Should you buy the Nintendo Switch 2 now for $499?

The Nintendo Switch 2 is priced at $499.99 in the United States. Nintendo announced the increase on May 8, 2026 and it took effect on September 1, up from $449.99. The price increases in Canada and Europe on the same date according to Thurrott and Game Informer.

Black Friday falls on Friday 27th November 2026 – the day after Thanksgiving. We cannot find any official Nintendo announcements as to whether they will be discounting the console this year. Last years Black Friday did include some bundles for Switch 2. On the 14th October Tom's Guide has listed some early Black Friday deals.

While the price isn’t too high, the savings aren’t too much. The majority of the bundles last year were a game thrown in.

In this post we will look at the price changes, current deals and what happened last year. Prices change fast so these numbers are accurate to the dates below.

The Nintendo Switch 2 price increases were announced on 8th May 2026. In Japan the prices increased from 49,980 to 59,980 yen on the 25th May. In the US, Canada and Europe the prices increased on the 1st September.

As per Game Informer the new prices for each region are:

The new prices are $499.99 in the US (from $449.99), $679.99 in Canada (from $629.99) and 499.99 euros in Europe (from 469.99 euros).

Only the Nintendo Switch 2 price has increased in these three regions. The increase in Japan also affects the original Switch Family and Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions from July 1st. Nintendo have said they will be adjusting prices in unspecified regions. Nintendo Switch Online will also see an increase in South Korea.

As per Game Informer the new standalone price in the US now matches the previous price of the Mario Kart World bundle. Nintendo have stopped producing this bundle last December however it is now available in limited quantities.

The reason Nintendo have increased the price is due to changing market conditions. As per Thurrott Nintendo said they expect these conditions will continue in the medium to long term.

Thurrott also points out that Sony and Microsoft have already increased their console prices. Memory prices are increasing due to the AI boom. This is also the first generation of consoles to have an increase in cost over time.

As per Game Informer the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S have all increased in price multiple times in the last 8-10 months. RAM and other PC components have also seen price hikes.

An article from last year predicted that RAM prices had quadrupled in recent months meaning console prices would likely increase in 2026. This was true for the Switch 2 however this was from an external source.

Overall the price increases are due to component costs meaning you are unlikely to get huge discounts. However retailers will offer bundles and gift cards.

On the 14th October Tom's Guide have listed some early Black Friday deals. The Switch 2 is priced at $499 on Amazon and Best Buy – matching the new standard price. They have said there was a price increase recently but have not listed the original price.

They also have two bundles:

Switch 2 + Switch Sports Resort for $529, a saving of $27 (Includes console, game and 3 month Nintendo Switch Online subscription.)

Switch 2 + Mario Kart World for $549, a saving of $37 (Includes 3 month Nintendo Switch Online subscription.) This was previously $499 before the price increase.

These are above the standard price. However they are a good deal if you were going to buy the game and subscription anyway. If you weren’t going to buy these then it is not as good.

These prices are accurate to the 14th October. Prices may have changed so always check the retailers page on the day of purchase.

If you already have the Switch 2 there are some good game deals. As per Tom's Guide the following games are available for the Switch 2:

Sonic X Shadow Generations – $24 at Amazon, down from $49.

EA Sports Madden NFL 27 – $42, down from $69.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – $51, down from $69.

Resident Evil Requiem – $59, down from $69.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection – $55, down from $69.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Remake) – $59, down from $69 (Pre-order). Launches 5th Nov 2026. Amazon have a secret deal of $10 off physical copies.

Original Switch games:

Sonic Superstars – $24, down from $29.

MIO: Memories in Orbit – $29, down from $35.

Super Mario RPG – $34, down from $59.

These prices are accurate to the 14th October. They may have changed. Often these deals are exclusive to certain retailers. Many of these are on Amazon.

Tom's Guide have listed some Switch 2 accessories. The Jsaux Game Card Case (40 game cards and microSD cards) is priced at $15, down from $19. The PowerA Slim Case (With stand) is priced at $16, down from $19. The PowerA Joy-Con Charging Dock is priced at $16, down from $22. However this doesn't work with Joy-Con 2 controllers.

This is a great example of reading the small print. This is not a good deal as it doesn’t work with your console.

The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller is priced at $56, down from $69. Works with Switch, Switch 2 & PC. The 8BitDo Pro 3 is priced at $63, down from $69. However there is a 10% discount at Amazon.

Storage: The Sandisk 128GB MicroSD Express is priced at $60, down from $77. This works with the Switch 2. If you are buying mostly digital games extra storage can be important. Often people buy a card alongside their console.

A useful reference can be found from Empire. Black Friday 2025 fell on the 28th November. Deals started appearing from the 21st November. The sale officially ended on Cyber Monday (1st December) however some retailers did extend their deals.

The Switch 2 + Mario Kart World was $499, $29 cheaper than buying the console and game separately ($528). This bundle included a digital download code and 256GB of storage. No physical copy.

Other bundles available in 2025 were:

Switch 2 + Donkey Kong Bananza – $518.

Switch 2 + Mario Kart World + Donkey Kong Bananza – $568.

We Got This Covered reported a grey market deal of $435.87 for the Mario Kart World bundle from AliExpress. This is a Hong Kong import and does not have a US warranty. This shows how low prices can go but we wouldn’t recommend. They did accept returns for faulty units.

Overall Black Friday 2025 saved you money through bundles and gift cards. None of the sources indicate that this year will be vastly different.

We couldn’t find any official announcements from Nintendo or retailers regarding the Black Friday price of the console. According to Empire Black Friday is returning in 2026 however they do not state when. We have used 27th November as Thanksgiving falls on the 4th Thursday of November (26th November).

Based on how it worked last year and the reasons Nintendo have given for increasing the prices we are most likely to see bundles, free games and gift cards. We could also see some accessory and game discounts. We are unlikely to see a direct price cut.

Many retailers will have early sales in the build up to Black Friday. As shown in Tom’s Guide on the 14th October.

There is also a risk of running out of stock. We cannot find any information on stock levels for this season.

If you want to play the console before the holidays and a bundle includes games you were going to buy anyway then we would recommend buying now. The Mario Kart World bundle at Best Buy is $549. You are saving money as it includes the items. You can play the console today.

If you are patient and not in a rush then we would recommend waiting. You may get a better bundle, gift card or accessory deal. As long as you aren’t looking for a specific bundle there is minimal risk.

Don’t hold out for a price cut. Based on the reasons Nintendo have given for increasing the price it does not look like it is a short term promotion. Nintendo said they expect the conditions to continue.

If you’re buying as a gift then ordering early means you have time to return/exchange. Check the return period at each retailer.

Check prices of individual items. Only a good deal if the total price of the console, game and subscription is more than the bundle price. Only if you were going to buy all of these items.

Read up on the game. As mentioned in the Mario Kart World bundle from 2025 this included a digital download code. This can be a great deal but make sure.

Check compatibility. As mentioned above the Joy-Con charging dock won’t work with Joy-Con 2 controllers.

Beware grey imports. These can be cheaper as they are region free however if something goes wrong with your console it may be difficult to repair. We would recommend sticking to US retailers.

Compare retailers. Tom’s Guide have listed the same price for the console at Amazon and Best Buy. However bundles and games will vary. Take 10 minutes to compare.

May 8th 2026 – Nintendo announce price increases for Switch 2 and other products (Thurrott).

May 25th 2026 – Price increase in Japan. Switch 2 increased from 49,980 to 59,980.

July 1st 2026 – Nintendo Switch Online price increases in Japan.

September 1st 2026 – Price increase in the US, Canada & Europe. Switch 2 increased from $449.99 to $499.99 in the US.

October 14th 2026 – Tom’s Guide publish early Black Friday deals. Console priced at $499. Bundles priced at $529 and $549 at Best Buy.

November 5th 2026 – Ocarina of Time Remake launches (Tom’s Guide).

November 26th 2026 – US Thanksgiving.

November 27th 2026 – Black Friday. Cyber Monday 30th November.

As you can see the price has increased before the holiday period. Any Black Friday deals will be based on the new $499.99 price.

First time Switch owner looking to get a console for the holidays? You’ll benefit most from the bundles. If you were going to buy the game and 3 month online subscription then you’re saving money. Compare the Mario Kart World or Switch Sports Resort bundles from Best Buy. Compare with Amazon on the day of purchase.

Parent looking to buy as a gift? Consider the timing. Order early so you can swap/return if needed. Make sure any extra controllers/accessories will work with the Switch 2. As shown with the Joy-Con dock not all accessories will work.

Upgrade? This is the biggest difference in price. The Switch 2 is now $499.99. This is a bigger outlay than summer. If your current console is doing what you need there isn’t any pressure to upgrade. Games are on sale.

Deal hunter? Expect bundles and gift cards. Set alerts on your trusted retailers. Decide how much you’re willing to pay. If you find a bundle that fits within your budget then buy it and stop looking.

Budget? Consider saving on extra items. A basic case and MicroSD Express can add up. If you don’t need them then don’t buy. The 128GB card was $60 on the 14th October.

Always consider the total price. Console, game, subscription and accessories.

The Switch 2 is now more expensive. Reasons given by Nintendo and external reporters show that the price increases are due to costs that won’t be going down. This means that it is less likely to be on a big discount during Black Friday.

Overall decide based on the games. If there is a game or bundle you want then buy it from a trusted retailer for the best price. Otherwise set a budget and check prices from mid November.

We have not tried any of these deals. Prices are accurate to the outlets and dates mentioned. This is our editorial opinion and not financial advice.

Game Informer, The Switch 2 is getting a price increase (May 8th 2026): https://gameinformer.com/2026/05/08/the-switch-2-is-getting-a-price-increase Thurrott, Nintendo Announces Switch 2 Price Increases: https://www.thurrott.com/games/335796/nintendo-announces-switch-2-price-increases Tom’s Guide, Nintendo Switch deals: Best early Black Friday savings (October 14th 2026): https://www.tomsguide.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-deals-best-early-black-friday-savings-on-console-bundles-games-and-accessories Empire, Nintendo Switch 2 Bundles in the Black Friday Sale (2025): https://www.empireonline.com/gaming/hardware/nintendo-switch-2-black-friday-bundle-mario-kart-world-us We Got This Covered, Nintendo Switch 2 sees rare discount for Black Friday (2025): https://wegotthiscovered.com/?p=1888261